Police began rolling out the devices last week after about nine months of training in their use.

The devices can only be used when officers believe they will prevent death or serious injury. 

Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said simply drawing a Taser often diffused a situation. 

Wangaratta Inspector David Ryan said Tasers filled a gap in the kits carried by police members.

“It’s an option between the use of spray and the use of lethal force,” he said.

“There has always been a gap there in that process.

“Spray doesn’t affect everyone. The need to immobilise someone very quickly happens on a fairly regular occurrence.

“Before these devices were available, police were essentially required to go hands-on with the offender or the person they were trying to disable.

“Having these conductive energy devices will hopefully eliminate the need to move to lethal force.”

The devices will later be made available to Wodonga officers, but a date is yet to be set for their rollout.

Wodonga members had been due to receive Tasers this month. 

Inspector Ryan said officers often encountered people who were distressed, behaving irrationally or trying to harm themselves.

“If we can take the Taser option to prevent someone taking their own life, then get help to them, in our view that’s a much better option,” he said.

“Although we have a high number of incidents where people arm themselves, not every incidence would require the use of the devices on them.

“I really don’t anticipate that they will be used very often at all.”

The North East rollout follows a trial that started in Bendigo and Morwell in 2010.

Inspector Ryan said officers from 16-hour stations would not have access to Tasers, but said every member had been trained in case they attend a critical situation.

One member in each police crew will be equipped.